Olushola Omogbehin
Following the conclusion of the primary of the African Democratic Congress, former vice president Atiku Abubakar has been declared as the presidential candidate of the party for 2027 elections.
Atiku defeated the duo of former minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
The result was made public on Wednesday night after long counting through a statement released on the ADC’s official X account.
“Atiku defeats Amaechi, Hayatudeen to secure ADC Presidential Ticket. The final result says Atiku got 1,855,787, Amaechi 509,397 and Hayatudeen 180,903.
“Total votes cast in the election: 2,546,457. Total party membership for the election: 3,113,599. Congratulations to Waziri Atiku,” the statement added.
The margin of Atiku’s victory stood at 1,346,390 votes ahead of Amaechi and 1,674,884 votes ahead of Hayatu-Deen.
Speaking after his victory at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja late Wednesday night, Atiku vowed to lead what he described as a national recovery effort.
He urged aggrieved members of the coalition and defeated aspirants to unite behind the party ahead of next year’s general election.
“We demonstrated that while democracy is being strangled and squashed by the ruling party and its oppressive and anti-democratic government, democracy is alive and well in the African Democratic Congress,” Atiku said.
He also accused Tinubu’s administration for causing crises within opposition parties through the use of security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the judiciary.
“As I speak, virtually all opposition political parties in the country have leadership crisis engineered by the APC government, the INEC and elements in the judiciary,” he said.
Condemning the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, he said “All because he is a leading opposition figure. This kind of cruelty must stop.”
In spite of the controversies surrounding ADC primary contest, Atiku said “This is not the time to celebrate. No one was defeated because we are one party and we all need to recognise the fierce urgency of the moment,” he said.
In particular, he urged Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to work with him in what he described as a struggle to save Nigeria’s democracy.
“In particular, I invite Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country.
Speaking on insecurity, he said “Every region of this country is gripped by insecurity, the worst kind in our history,” he said.
He said that ADC government would strengthen the armed forces, police and intelligence agencies through mass recruitment, improved welfare, better training and modern equipment.
